SALT LAKE CITY – While fans witnessed a thrilling masterpiece in the Four Nations final between two juggernauts, Team Canada got their revenge on the United States and still reign supreme in the world of international hockey. In addition to superb netminding from Jordan Binnington, Connor McDavid finally delivered in a key moment as he scored the game winner for Canada in overtime.
Here are the key takeaways from the Four Nations Final.
The eyes of the sports world were all on Montreal and Boston this past week, and why wouldn’t they be?
While Four Nations descended upon the host cities to represent their countries, two heavyweights faced off twice in less than a week.
As the United States and Canada went toe-to-toe and at times fist-to-fist in a best-on-best matchup, the NHL orchestrated a masterpiece of entertainment that was far better than anything the NFL, NBA or MLB have produced in recent years.
Former NHL player @PKSubban1 didn’t hold back on the differences between the NHL and the NBA 😳
“If you’re really about sports … It doesn’t matter how much money you are making.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/WZHtLiFbkS
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 20, 2025
What became obvious to new fans is that hockey players don’t really have an off switch, especially when provided the opportunity to represent their country.
“You’re all in” Utah Hockey Club head coach Andre Tourigny said. “It’s just the way it is. The commitment from every player.”
“You play for the U.S. in the final, you play for a whole country…it’s magical.”
Each game of the tournament had flashes of magic, but the two games between the United States and Canada were simply supernatural.
Three fights, countless merciless checks, immense speed, a collection of fantastic goals and the need for overtime to decide a clear winner in the final.
Won’t find this at an All-Star weekend.
International hockey is different.pic.twitter.com/3kgN3K3oIY
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 16, 2025
Yup. All game long. Make 97 feel it. https://t.co/8h9NZkVSLo
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 16, 2025
He also does not like Doughty either 😂 https://t.co/LhSOzyIxiv
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 21, 2025
With the World Cup of Hockey returning in 2028 and the Olympics every four years, international hockey is in a great place with the NHL calling the shots.
Moving forward, there never needs to be another All-Star event in the National Hockey League.
Those games don’t matter, the events are not exciting, and international hockey has emphatically proven that it is king.
If one player stood out more than any other for the Stars and Stripes during this tournament, it was forward Brady Tkachuk.
Not only did he lead the United States in scoring with three goals alongside Jake Guentzel, but he also had a whopping 23 hits and dropped the gloves in Montreal in the first game against Canada.
The physicality of this game is off the freaking charts and it’s simply incredible. https://t.co/ikPmpDQABU
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 16, 2025
Put the “C” on his sweater 😮💨 https://t.co/KyvgiVtC4u
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 16, 2025
Brady bashing it in to tie the game.
Look at the emotion in his celly. This game just means more.pic.twitter.com/sSgCzLNMG0
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) February 21, 2025
Four Nations captain Auston Matthews is obviously the most skilled player on the United States roster, but Brady’s game embodies everything you want in a captain.
He leads by example, plays incredibly physical, is an absolute pest for the opposition, stands up for his teammates, dropped the gloves and brings a ferocity to the ice that results in critical production.
“You have to set the tone and when you have the Tkachuk brothers on your team, it’s just built for them,” JT Miller told NHL.com.
After the Four Nations tournament, Tkachuk’s stock has arguably never been higher, and he should lead the United States in their quest for Olympic gold next year.
When it mattered most, goaltender Jordan Binnington and Canada’s onslaught of superstar forwards were simply too much for the US to handle.
While MacKinnon got things going for Team Canada with a sneaky and crafty goal to open the scoring, of course, Connor McDavid finished it for the Maple Leaf in OT.
Nate strikes first! 🚨
Mack attaque et marque! 🚨#4Nationspic.twitter.com/IuDNVoqqMj
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 21, 2025
CONNOR MCDAVID! OVERTIME WINNER! 🚨
CONNOR MCDAVID TRANCHE EN PROLONGATION! 🚨#4Nationspic.twitter.com/AF96PDU2S8
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 21, 2025
The two best players in the world belong to Team Canada and they each crafted key goals in spectacular fashion, specific to their brand of hockey and individual skillset.
As for Binnington, Canada wouldn’t have been the last team standing if it wasn’t for his stellar play between the pipes.
JORDAN BINNINGTON! ARE YOU KIDDING! 🤯🤯🤯
JORDAN BINNINGTON! INCROYABLE! 🤯🤯🤯#4Nations pic.twitter.com/RxYm1MVWQm
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 21, 2025
With 31 saves on 33 shots (93 percent), Binnington was nearly a brick wall all night and was the clear MVP of overtime as he answered every shot from U.S. during a suffocating stretch of offense from the Americans.
With the conclusion of the Four Nations Tournament, the Utah Hockey Club will return to play against the LA Kings on February 22. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
